WATER- LIQUID "Diamonds"
On nights when the air lays down a thick frost of glittering ice crystals I feel like I am surrounded by trillions of "diamonds". Any attempt to collect those glittering ice "diamonds" would result in their demise. It makes me wonder at the value we place on things of beauty.
Real diamonds, a form of carbon, are valued for their enduring beauty. But, why is it that we place such high value on a cold, hard, unchangeable carbon diamond, with a melting point of 6422 degrees Fahrenheit? Yet, we often take for granted the land covered with glittering ice crystals, transient and changeable, with beauty and usefulness that rivals diamonds.
God made water so that when it becomes solid (ice), it expands and floats. The ability of water to float protects the life in lakes, streams, rivers, oceans and ponds. Think of the disaster that would occur if water, like most other things when changing from a liquid to a solid, sank when it froze. Aquatic life would soon be trapped against the bottom of the sea or pond floor.
Water in the liquid state helps our food to grow. It beautifies our landscapes. It enables our oceans to support plant life that provides from 50-70% of the oxygen contained our planet's atmosphere.
Water's ability to become a gas allows ocean water to be effortlessly transported to your lawn in the form of condensing rain.
But what about water for the body? One of the notable uses for water is as a carrier for our body's metabolic (energy production) system. When we take in calories and use them for energy, waste is produced and must be eliminated.
True to the laws of our body which show we were created by a gracious, merciful and forgiving God, there are multiple ways in which waste is eliminated. If one system fails or becomes unable to carry its full burden, the other systems can, to some degree, take up the slack.
An average, disease-free person eliminates the following amount of water per day:
1) At minimum 100 ml of water through the skin.
2) Approximately 200 ml of water through the bowel.
3) About 800 ml of fluid through breathing.
4) Another 1-2 liters in the form of urine.
So now you know where the general rule of thumb originates that encourages people to drink two liters (8 cups) of water per day.
The amount of fluid a person eliminates is highly variable. If a person works in hot weather and sweats a great deal, they will lose much more than 100 ml through their skin. If water intake is not increased, the body will usually compensate by producing less urine.
However, producing less than 500 ml/day of urine is a problem. Dehydration must be corrected or the body will not be able to rid itself of waste as it should. A low output of urine can also mean that the kidneys are not working properly, a serious medical problem which needs medical treatment.
People with kidney or heart disease must be very careful not to overwhelm their body with extra water. The kidneys in a diseased state cannot eliminate and the diseased heart cannot pump a sudden increase in fluid. In those cases, fluid intake must be carefully monitored.
Part of fluid monitoring is accomplished by a daily weight. A two pound weight increase in a short period of time means the body has retained one additional liter or 4 cups of fluid and this is a stress to a diseased body.
So study to know your body and give it what it needs to eliminate waste, the gift of pure water. Adequate water intake is worth more than diamonds to prevent a whole host of problems such as kidney and heart disease from occurring. Consider it an investment in your health!
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